1936: Charles E. Daniels born October 28 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Circa 1953: Charlie has a bluegrass band and writes his first song. 'The first thing I wrote that was recorded was in the late 50's but it was nothing really big.'

1959: Charlie has by now been in several rock and roll and R & B groups. The longest stretch is with the Jaguars (1959-1967). They record an instrumental single in Ft. Worth, Texas. It's called "Jaguar."

Early '60s: Charlie, raised on country, a fan of bluegrass, and an adept rock and roll singer and guitarist, discovers jazz on a visit to Washington, D.C. The Jaguars begin to play Louis Prima shuffles, "Mack the Knife" and "some really jazzy stuff."

1964: Back to country and rock. Charlie co-writes "It Hurts Me" and it's recorded by Elvis Presley and put on the flip side of "Kissin' Cousins."

1967: Charlie is invited by producer Bob Johnston, who's joined CBS Records in Nashville, to try Music City. He agrees. "I was playing a lot of clubs and I wanted to get off the road."

Charlie begins work as a session player. After being told by producers that he plays too loud, he joins Johnston on Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline. "It was the first time I felt at home in Nashville," he says. "You experienced a lot of freedom from Dylan. He liked what I did, and I was very much into what he was doing."

Charlie and his fiddle go on to other sessions and other stars, among them Ringo Starr and Marty Robbins.

1969: Charlie tries his hand as a producer, and when Johnston gets overloads with work, he suggests Daniels to the Youngbloods. He produces Elephant Mountain and Ride the Wind, the latter recorded live at a rock festival in Louisiana and at the Fillmores East and West.

1970: Charlie cuts his first solo album, Charlie Daniels (Capitol Records). He forms the Charlie Daniels Band and joins the first wave of Southern rock bands.

The CDB joins Kama Sutra Records and records Te John, Grease and Wolfman, named after the band members' nicknames. "Grease" was keyboard player Joel DiGregorio, still with the CDB. Charlie was just "Charlie" and on occasion, "the Fat Boy."

1972: Their next album, Honey in the Rock, includes "Uneasy Rider," a talking bluegrass number which becomes a hit the following year, reaching No. 9 in Billboard in August 1973.

1974: The CDB issues Way Down Yonder, which will be reissued in 1977 by Epic as Whiskey.

Records Fire on the Mountain, including "The South's Gonna Do It Again," which hits the Top 30, and "Long Haired Country Boy," which peaks at No. 56. Charlie decides to record several songs live in concert and chooses an auditorium in Nashville. In a nod to the Volunteer State, the CDB calls the concert the Volunteer Jam and invites friends from the Allman Brothers Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, and others to join them. "We had such a good time, we decided we should do this once in a while," he says.

"Once in a while" becomes almost every year. Before its first run ends in 1986, the jams are broadcast nationally and internationally (by the Voice of America). Guests range the world of music and include Willie Nelson, Ted Nugent, Ray Price, Roy Acuff, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Crystal Gayle, James Brown, Emmylou Harris, Amy Grant, George Thorogood, Kris Kristofferson, Little Richard, Tammy Wynette, and Boxcar Willie, along with Alabama, Black Oak Arkansas, the Dirt Band, the Oak Ridge Boys, and in 1986, a reunion of the Allmans.

1975: CDB issues the Night Rider album.

A second Volunteer Jam in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, will result in an album, Volunteer Jam.

1976: With the album Saddle Tramp, the CDB joins Epic Records.

Charlie aligns himself with presidential candidate Jimmy Carter. "I didn't think he had a chance," says Charlie. "When I was asked about doing something for him, he was 'Jimmy Who?' But he called me one night. I read some clips about him, and I felt good about him. We'd come out of a catastrophic political time...Carter personified honesty and goodness."

When "Jimmy Who?" becomes President Carter, the CDB are among performers at his inaugural.

1977: The CDB issues two albums, High Lonesome and Midnight Wind.

1978: More Volunteer Jams result in a two-record set, Volunteer Jam III and IV.

1979: Million Mile Reflections yields "Devil Went Down to Georgia," which reaches No. 1 and for which Charlie wins the Grammy for Best Country Vocal.

1980: The CDB appears in the film "Urban Cowboy;" another Jam brings another VJ (VI) album. CDB's Full Moon includes "In America," Charlie's response to the Iran hostage crisis and the renewed patriotism it ignites. The record reached No. 11 in Billboard.

"We'd just come through the '60s and the backlash of Watergate and Vietnam," says Charlie. "I got the feeling that patriotism was almost dead. But then they took the hostages. I travel a lot, and everywhere I went, people were saying, 'How dare that S.O.B. take our people! We oughta go over there.... How dare they do that!'"

The CDB hit the charts with "The Legend of Wooley Swamp."

1981: Yet another Volunteer Jam and album (VII)

1982: In the Windows album, the CDB's version of Dan Daley's "Still in Saigon" reaches No. 22.

1983: The CDB issues a compilation, The Charlie Daniels Band - A Decade of Hits.

1985: Me and the Boys album is released.

1987: The Volunteer Jams have continued non-stop since 1977, but a combination of business and financial difficulties — along with the time and energy required of the CDB staff — take their toll, and the 13th will be the last for a few years.

The CDB releases its Powder Keg album.

1988: Homesick Heroes is issued out of CBS/Nashville and results in a Top 10 record on the country charts: "Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues."

1990: Simple Man is issued and rises to No. 2 on the country charts. The album is ignited by the title single, in which a simple man ("with simple attitudes," Charlie explains) calls for the lynching of drug dealers and slow deaths by the way of gators and snakes for murders, child abusers and rapists. The song gets Charlie onto numerous talk shows, where he's asked to explain himself.

He wrote the song, he says, "out of frustration." He's read about a scandalous case in which a child was killed by her stepfather. "I know how I feel about it; I know what I'd like to do," he explains. "Some of it's kind of tongue-in-cheek; it's a knee-jerk reaction. I don't really want to take people out and leave them in the swamps....But violent crimes--that's what that song's about."

Charlie is also the subject of a long-form music video, "Charlie Daniels: Homefolks and Highways." The CDB released its first holiday album, Christmas Time Down South.

1991: Renegade is released and Charlie announces the return of the Volunteer Jam, in May in Nashville. "We took a three and a half year look at it and feel that we're ready to do it again," says Charlie. As always, the VJ will provide a stage for a wide mix of music, including B.B. King, Steppenwolf, Tanya Tucker, and, of course, The Charlie Daniels Band.

1992: Charlie Daniels signs a new record deal with Liberty Records. "I have been a long time admirer of Jimmy Bowen," says Charlie. "I like his style; we both kind of came to Nashville as renegades. Jimmy runs a different kind of record company — an energetic record company. Jimmy wants the Charlie Daniels Band to sound like us and be what we are. That means an awful lot to us."

Bowen says, "Charlie Daniels is a trend setter and an innovator. We at Liberty are proud to have him recording for us and look forward to a long association."

1993: Liberty Records releases the first Charlie Daniels album in April, titled, America, I Believe In You and the CDB commences a tour. Dickies workwear out of Ft. Worth, Texas signs Charlie as a celebrity spokesman for the second year and announces their involvement as a sponsor of the 1993 tour.

1994: Charlie Daniels releases his first Christian album on Sparrow Records, titled The Door. Produced by Ron Griffin, the project centers around material written by Charlie and the band, and includes a co-written song with Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman. "Sunday Morning," the first single release to Christian Country radio, takes the No. 1 slot on the Positive Country chart. A video is released for the single "Two Out Of Three," and is voted Video of the Year for the Christian Country Music Association.

Charlie and Chris LeDoux celebrate Christmas, cowboy-style, through song and story at Charlie's Tenn. home, Twin Pines Ranch, where A Wrangler Cowboy Christmas television special is taped for TNN with Charlie, Chris, Baxter Black, Diamond Rio and Linda Davis.

1995: Charlie Daniels is named Cashbox magazine’s Best Positive Christian Country Performance by a Secular Artist for 1994. He receives a Dove Award and a Grammy nomination for his Christian album, The Door, and inks another contract to host the nationwide talent search television show, Charlie Daniels' Talent Roundup, on TNN: The Nashville Network. A tour is set with Charlie, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Travis Tritt.

1996: Charlie's second gospel album, Steel Witness, is released.

The Charlie Daniels Band is a featured performer in the very successful Southern Thunder Tour with Hank Williams Jr. and The Marshall Tucker Band.

Charlie celebrates his 60th birthday with Volunteer Jam XVI - the first-ever Acoustic Jam - at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, TN. Guest performers include John Berry, David Ball, Tracy Byrd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Cledus T. Judd, Tracy Lawrence, David Lee Murphy, BlackHawk, Lorrie Morgan, Jimmy Hall and Victoria Shaw. Proceeds from the Jam Benefit TPAC's Humanities Outreach Program (H.O.T.) and the T.J. Martell Foundation for cancer research.

Charlie Daniels: The Roots Remain box set is released. The three-CD set features some of Charlie's classics hits including "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," "Long Haired Country Boy" and "Uneasy Rider."

With a poet's sense of rhythm and a musician’s sense of timing, Charlie Daniels delivers the University of North Carolina at Wilmington commencement address. Charlie challenged the UNC Class of 1996 to ask two all-important questions: What do I want out of life? and How badly do I want it?

Following the speech, Charlie Daniels was presented the honorary degree of doctor of letters.

1997: Charlie Daniels and manager David Corlew start independent record label, Blue Hat Records and release Blues Hat, the band's first album on the new label. The first single features a remake of The CDB smash, "Long Haired Country Boy," with special guests John Berry and Hal Ketchum and is nominated for the Country Music Association’s Vocal Event of the Year.

Sony Wonder releases Charlie's first children's album, By The Light Of The Moon: Campfire Songs and Cowboy Tunes.

1998: Charlie was presented The Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music. It is presented annually to an outstanding individual who has enhanced country music and contributed to its growth. Garth Brooks along with congratulatory messages from two American Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford and music by Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart, made it a big surprise for Charlie.

1998: The Charlie Daniels Band releases Fiddle Fire/25 Years of The Charlie Daniels Band on Blue Hat Records. The first single, "Texas," includes guest appearances by Lee Roy Parnell and Ray Benson on both the recording and video.

1999: The Charlie Daniels Band releases Tailgate Party on Blue Hat Records. The CD is a collection of songs that have inspired the band over the years.

Charlie takes his historical Volunteer Jam on the road for the first time for Volunteer Jam Tour '99 with friends Molly Hatchet, The Marshall Tucker Band and for several dates, Hank Williams Jr. A charity partnership was developed between Charlie and Habitat for Humanity and several houses were built while on tour.

Charlie receives the Living Legend Award from "The Music City News/TNN Awards Show."

2000: The Charlie Daniels Band releases Road Dogs on Blue Hat Records, a collection of all-new material.

The Volunteer Jam Tour goes on the road again for the second year, with Hank Williams Jr., Little Feat & Edgar Winter.

2001: The Charlie Daniels Band rocks amphitheatres on the Volunteer Jam Tour 2001 with .38 Special, The Dickey Betts Band and newcomer Trent Summar and the New Row Mob. Sponsored by Diamond Cut Jeans, the CDB tour kicked off in Charlotte, North Carolina and wrapped up in Hartford, Connecticut.

Charlie Daniels opens a museum in downtown Nashville. The museum is filled with memorabilia and photos chronicling Charlie's career, including photos with presidents, celebrities from the sports, music, film, television and cowboy worlds. These items grace the walls of the museum that is situated on the hottest street in Nashville overlooking the Cumberland River. Charlie's prestigious Grammy, CMA, ACM, Playboy and other awards fill the gallery that exemplifies Charlie's personality. Famed guitarists and Charlie's friends, the late Ronnie Van Zant & Toy Caldwell, have their guitars displayed in the museum.

Blue Hat/Audium releases the Charlie Daniels Band's first live album in the band's 30+ year history, LIVE. The 17-cut disc features classics "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," "Elizabeth Reed," "The South's Gonna Do It Again," and "Long Haired Country Boy," to name a few.

Charlie Daniels is inducted into his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina's prestigious Walk of Fame.

October 28, 2001: Charlie turns 65 and celebrates with the success of his single, "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag." The song was recorded in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee after the September 11 tragedy. The demand for the single shut down Charlie's website.

2002: The CDB releases How Sweet The Sound: 25 Favorite Hymns and Gospel Greats, marking Charlie's third release on Sparrow Records and his first since his successful prostate cancer surgery in November (2001). The double disc contains 25 favorite hymns and offers a special bonus of the single "This Ain't No Rag, It’s A Flag."

The CDB releases Redneck Fiddlin' Man on Blue Hat/Audium Records. Charlie Daniels raises his patriotic voice once again with 12 songs including "The Last Fallen Hero" and special appearances by Garth Brooks on "Waco" and Travis Tritt on "Southern Boy." Not only was Travis Tritt a co-writer with Daniels on "Southern Boy," he also appeared in the video.

The CDB releases A Merry Christmas To All on Blue Hat/Audium Records. The album includes Christmas classics and originals that Charlie wrote. The CDB promoted the new Christmas album with a Christmas tour in December.

2003: Freedom and Justice for All is the new release on Blue Hat/Audium Records. Regnery Publishers releases Charlie's hardback book, "Ain't No Rag (Freedom, Family and the Flag)."

2004: With the help of the Tennessee National Guard, The CDB performs for soldiers in Germany and Kosovo, and is heard in 56 countries including Iraq and Afghanistan on a live broadcast provided by the Armed Forces Network.

2005: The Charlie Daniels Band, Gretchen Wilson, Black Eyed Peas, Earth, Wind and Fire perform for the Super Bowl XXXIX "Bridging Generations" pre game show where the NFL paired young icons and timeless legends from a variety of music genres, Super Bowl XXXIX aired on Fox Sunday, February 6, 2005 from Jacksonville, Fla.

Blue Hat/Koch Records released Songs From The Longleaf Pines, Charlie Daniels first bluegrass album, featuring bluegrass legends Earl Scruggs and Mac Wiseman, as well as Mike Bub, Jason Carter, Andy Hall, Tim May, Rob McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Scott Rouse, Ricky Scaggs, Chris Thile, Cyndi Wheeler and the Whites.

Great reviews were received from USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Barnes & Noble, All Music Guide, CCM, Christianitytoday.com and the Nashville City Paper.

Through the combined efforts of the Tennessee National Guard, United States Army-Europe, Central Command in Southwest Asia, and the nonprofit organization "Stars for Stripes," The Charlie Daniels Band took their spirit to Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Germany, where they performed 9 shows for more than 15,000 soldiers. The band traveled more than 16,000 miles and performed up to 3 shows per day for American troops deployed in the war on terrorism.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. releases an exclusive Charlie Daniels Band CD, Country Stars N' Stripes, a collection of the band's patriotic favorites including "In America" and "The Devil Went Down To Georgia."

Charlie Daniels performs "Preachin', Praying & Singing" from his gospel bluegrass CD, Songs of the Longleaf Pines, on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

The Charlie Daniels Band was featured in a series of television spots promoting the Tennessee Titans NFL team for the 2005/2006 season. Charlie wrote the new 'Titans On 2' campaign jingle, which advertised Titans games aired on the Nashville ABC-TV affiliate, WKRN. The spots aired on the network, as well as on the Jumbotron at every Titans home game at the Coliseum.

2005 continued: Blue Hat/Koch Records releases the first ever Live concert DVD by The Charlie Daniels Band and was shot July 4, 2005 on the Riverfront in Nashville, TN before a crowd of 100,000 + music fans. The DVD features bonus features such as behind the scenes, photos from Charlie's personal collection, historical footage from Volunteer Jam II in Murfreesboro, TN 1975, music videos and a very special tribute to America's military.

Charlie Daniels partners with Prilosec OTC and the Country Music Association (CMA) for the "Burning to Sing Your Heart Out" contest, which awarded prizes to Americans who wrote and sang the best song about how they overcame their most "heartburning" experience.

Charlie Daniels was featured on Circle of Honor, which aired on The Outdoor Channel, and includes interviews with Charlie, Jr. from the Charlie Daniels Museum in downtown Nashville, and Thurman Mullins, Twin Pines Ranch Foreman. Also included is a photo biography tribute of Charlie's journey throughout his career.

Charlie Daniels was honored as a BMI Icon during ceremonies at the 53rd Annual BMI Country Awards. Del Bryant, President & CEO of the performing rights organization, presented Daniels with an engraved silver champagne vessel with the inscription: "In recognition of your unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."

The Charlie Daniels Band launched Operation Heartstrings, a plea to corporate America to help the dedicated men and women serving in the Armed Forces overseas combat the loneliness and isolation of service in the War on Terror by providing instruments, albums, DVDs, CD and DVD players.

Charlie Daniels sits in with the band on the set of Emeril Live in a special episode, "Gotta Have Garlic" on The Food Network. He also makes return appearances on Fox TV on Fox & Friends, Hannity & Colmes, and Dayside, then performs with The CDB on the CBS Early Show to kick off the CDB DVD Live.

Charlie Daniels receives a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance; "I'll Fly Away" — a track from Songs From The Longleaf Pines [Blue Hat Records/Koch Records Nashville].

2007 continued: The CDB releases their first duet album, Deuces, on Blue Hat/Koch Records. Charlie has teamed up with some of the most recognizable artists performing duets of country, pop, and R&B classics, as well as some of the CDB's biggest hits. Guest artists include Brad Paisley, The Del McCoury Band, Gretchen Wilson, Earl, Gary & Randy Scruggs, Bonnie Bramlett, Travis Tritt, Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Marty Stuart, Darius Rucker, Brenda Lee, Vince Gill and Montgomery Gentry.

November 19, 2007: Charlie was surprised with an invitation to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was hosting his annual Christmas For Kids benefit show at the historic Ryman Auditorium when Opry member Martina McBride delivered the surprise Opry invitation. After Martina walked on stage with what appeared to be a Christmas gift for Charlie, she opened the small box she was holding to reveal a Christmas card reading:

"Peace, joy, love, and wishes fulfilled. These are the timeless treasures of Christmas. Thank you, Charlie, for all you've done to make Christmas wishes come true for thousands of children through the years. Now it's time to make a wish come true for you, too. You're officially invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Merry Christmas!"

Charlie backed away, overcome with emotion while the crowd exploded with applause.

"I cannot even begin to tell you folks — this is very emotional for me," said Charlie. "I never ever in my wildest dreams when I came to Nashville with my precious wife and son dreamed that this would happen. To think that now my name will be added along with all these great country artists. Thank you."

January 19, 2008: Charlie celebrates 50 years of music and is officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.